Abstract
Start of the introduction:
Cardiff is Europe’s youngest capital city and its history is dominated by its maritime and industrial heritage. But nestled deep in one of its suburbs, surrounded by houses, is one of the most important, yet little known and understood, prehistoric monuments in the region – Caerau Hillfort. Enclosing an area of more than 5 hectares, Caerau Hillfort, is by far the largest Iron-Age hillfort in south Glamorgan. The housing estates that surround the hillfort are home to more than 25,000 people – the largest social housing estates in Wales. Despite strong community ties, the people that live there are burdened by significant social and economic deprivation, particularly high unemployment. Its large population once fed the major manufacturing employers such as Ely Paper Mill and Ely Brewery, but after these closed down in the 1980s employment in the area has never recovered. This is partly due to poor educational attainment – almost 50% of 16 and 17 year olds have no qualifications and only 2% of school leavers go on to university (compared with 95% in other areas of Cardiff). Moreover, a disturbance in the summer of 1991 was publicized in the media as a ‘riot’ and led to a deluge of long lasting bad publicity which has given these communities a real stigma, particularly in the minds of residents of wider Cardiff.
Cardiff is Europe’s youngest capital city and its history is dominated by its maritime and industrial heritage. But nestled deep in one of its suburbs, surrounded by houses, is one of the most important, yet little known and understood, prehistoric monuments in the region – Caerau Hillfort. Enclosing an area of more than 5 hectares, Caerau Hillfort, is by far the largest Iron-Age hillfort in south Glamorgan. The housing estates that surround the hillfort are home to more than 25,000 people – the largest social housing estates in Wales. Despite strong community ties, the people that live there are burdened by significant social and economic deprivation, particularly high unemployment. Its large population once fed the major manufacturing employers such as Ely Paper Mill and Ely Brewery, but after these closed down in the 1980s employment in the area has never recovered. This is partly due to poor educational attainment – almost 50% of 16 and 17 year olds have no qualifications and only 2% of school leavers go on to university (compared with 95% in other areas of Cardiff). Moreover, a disturbance in the summer of 1991 was publicized in the media as a ‘riot’ and led to a deluge of long lasting bad publicity which has given these communities a real stigma, particularly in the minds of residents of wider Cardiff.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | After Regeneration |
| Subtitle of host publication | Communities, policy and place |
| Editors | Dave O'Brien, Peter Matthews |
| Place of Publication | Bristol |
| Publisher | Policy Press |
| Pages | 113-130 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781447324164 |
| Publication status | Published - 2015 |
Keywords
- Engagement
- Communities
- Archaeology
- Participation
- Co-production
- Interviews
